10 things that Drivers in the Philippines should know

According to the MMDA, these are 10 things drivers in the Philippines should know:

1. MMDA Enforcers are not allowed to group together while apprehending a motorist. They are not even allowed to stand together in groups of two (2) or more, except in actual times of special operations (e.g. apprehending groups of smoke-belching/colorum buses).

2. Swerving is not a traffic violation. It is defined as a movement wherein vehicles shift from a lane to another. However, it can constitute the offense of reckless driving if it is done without precautions (e.g. swerving in an abrupt and careless manner, swerving without the use of signals).

3 A driver’s license cannot be confiscated by a Traffic Enforcer during traffic apprehensions except on the following situations:
a. The driver was involved in a traffic accident
b. The driver has accumulated three (3) or more unsettled violations
c. The driver has been apprehended for the following violations:

The above-mentioned administrative violations also require a minimum of 2 hours seminar (for the drivers) at the Traffic Academy.

However, any driver who has committed three (3) or more unpaid violations, whether administrative or moving, shall also be subject to attending seminars, whose length shall be based on the results of the diagnostic exam (exam that will determine the contents of the seminar progress), which will be administered by the Agency.

*Note: If the license is to be confiscated, the Traffic Enforcer should inform the driver of the reason/s for the confiscation and the ticket validity.

If the driver refuses to surrender his driver’s license, his plate may be detached pursuant to Section 74 & 75, MC 89-105.

4. Private Vehicles are not allowed to use the yellow lane except when they are about to turn – provided that they start shifting lanes upon seeing the transition lane (broken white lines painted diagonally), that you can see around 50 meters away from an intersection. However, selective apprehension of private vehicles using the yellow lane is highly prohibited.

The yellow lanes (1st and 2nd lanes in EDSA) are only for City Buses. City Buses are not allowed to go beyond the yellow lanes. If they do so, they will be apprehended for violating the yellow lane policy.

Provincial buses are also not allowed to use the yellow lane. Instead, they are encouraged to use the third lane.

5. Each Traffic Enforcer has his/her own written mission order issued by the MMDA Central Admin. Apprehended drivers are free to ask for the apprehending officer’s mission order, which includes his area of responsibility, time of duty, official function. It also indicates whether or not the enforcer is authorized to issue tickets.

6. Traffic Enforcers should issue TVR in complete uniform, with visible nameplates. Traffic Enforcers are instructed to accomplish the TVR (Traffic Violation Receipt) without any delay or argument on the road, so as to avoid traffic congestion.

7. The Apprehending Enforcer is allowed to issue another TVR for Towing Fee. If the owner of the impounded vehicle fails to release his vehicle after payment of fine in the stipulated date, the impounding officer shall issue a separate TVR indicating no. of days it has remained at the impounding area.

8. Before apprehending, the Traffic Enforcer should flag down the vehicle and lead it to the roadside where it will not obstruct the flow of traffic. Traffic Enforcers should courteously inform the driver of his violation.

9. Traffic Enforcers are not allowed to ask drivers to alight from their vehicles while the apprehension is taking place. Most importantly, Traffic Enforcers are not allowed to ask or receive bribe money.

10. During traffic apprehensions, the following can be considered as a valid driver’s license:

The Traffic Enforcer should exercise extra diligence in verifying the veracity of the data or documents presented.

If you encounter any Traffic Enforcer violating any of these, get the name of the Traffic Enforcer indicated on his/her name plate, and submit a letter of complaint addressed to the Traffic Adjudication Board (TAB), MMDA Bldg. EDSA cor. Orense St. Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City, within 5 days after the apprehension.

In case you are involved in an argument with a Traffic Enforcer, call the MMDA Hotline 136, or the Metrobase at 0917-561-8711. Ask the Metrobase to send inspectors to go to the place where the argument is taking place for proper investigation.

You may also e-mail complaints against erring Traffic Enforcers to the MMDA thru [email protected] Include full details of the incident (attach photos or videos if possible), so that they will be able to act promptly on the matter.

Cocoy is an Internet entrepreneur, technology enthusiast, political junkie and social observer who enjoys a good cup of coffee, comic books, and tweets as @cocoy on twitter. He publishes a personal blog called The Geeking, a weblog on geekery, pop culture, and sometimes Apple, and technology. He writes for iPadPinas--- a site devoted to all things iPad.
Cocoy is also the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the ProPinoy Project. He regularly contributes political commentary at BlogWatch.ph.
Cocoy is a founding member of democracy.net.ph, a think tank. Cocoy also helped draft the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom.
Cocoy considers himself to be Liberal.

The idiotic seminar as punishment is the root cause of whats making the MMDA look like the stupid monkeys they really are.

Issue traffic tickets that require payment of fines for simple traffic violations. People that fail to pay will be unable to renew their drivers licence and/or receive an arrest warrant. I got myself a speeding ticket a couple of years ago in San Antonio, wrote a check at the municipal court the next day – No drama. Is this too complicated for Filipinos?

A stupid requirement that gets somebody to miss work, just to attend a seminar is retarded. It forces everybody to bribe MMDA clowns.

Jeremy

that’s sad.
I will try to file a complaint to the appointed assistant secretary “Virginia Torres”. I’ll just see how that works.

Winky

Just do what I do: Pray that they get bone cancer and AIDS. This is the same issue with just about any Philippine government office. You go to window A just so you can get to window B, all the way to window Z with an “authenticated” copy of something, and an “affidavit” from your scrotum. This is retarded. Never mind if you have to work for a living, its an all day event. Of course this is when people resort to bribing fixers and Philippine ass monkey public servants.

Jeremy

How about provincial cases? last saturday 08/20/2011 an LTO -fficer confiscated my license and gave me a ticket for reckless driving (overtaking on yellow lane) which I did not do. All I did was question him for the accusations he is telling me. Never did I overtake any vehicle nor recklessly drove off the yellow lane. For Christ’s sakes I am with my wife and only daughter, why would I even think off recklessly drive? He gave me a TOP (the color red copy) which was the Commission On Audit’s “COA” copy. He kept repeating that I will be liable to pay 1000 php for the violation and 500 for the seminar that I will be taking. I did not sign the TOP since I was appealing for a protest. Now I am experiencing delays because an LTO chose to abuse his authority for asking him why I am being given a violation. If you know someone who can help me get this guy from LTO laid off please advise me. tnx

http://www.facebook.com/crisn Cris Nacionales

This is a must print and should be among those driving documents inside one’s dashboard drawer.

http://www.facebook.com/crisn Cris Nacionales

This is a must print and should be among those driving documents inside one’s dashboard drawer.

http://www.facebook.com/crisn Cris Nacionales

This is a must print and should be among those driving documents inside one’s dashboard drawer.

Diego

Hi! What I am hearing nowadays that only MMDA guys aren’t allowed to confiscate licenses, and that policemen are allowed to do so. Can you confirm whether this is true or not?

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